Configuration Management: When to Change Part Numbers and Revisions

For today’s blog post, we will be discussing the importance of when to change part numbers and revisions on manufacturing drawings. This is a major part of engineering change control and maintaining the proper documentation based on the minor and major changes made. Before we get started, it is important to mention that this blog is not meant as a “how to” of maintaining documentation and engineering change control. Many OEMs and companies maintain their document control based on their own system of rules of configuration or interchangeability (when to change part numbers, how to properly roll revisions, what letters and numbers to use, etc.). Continue reading

The Importance of Deviation Management in Manufacturing

It’s agreeable that quality is the number one most important aspect of manufacturing. There are numerous quality standards throughout industries and throughout the world. Without them, many products wouldn’t serve their purpose and would be complete junk without them. For instance, without FDA quality standards, the medical devices that are used during surgery could be inefficient causing the surgery to fail. Or without auto industry standards, your car wouldn’t operate the way it’s supposed to.  Another would be if there weren’t FAA quality standards, airplanes could be unreliable and unsafe to fly. Continue reading

Types of Joining and Assembly in Metal Manufacturing

There are many important aspects of manufacturing that need to be considered in order for it to be profitable for the company. As we have discussed in previous blog posts about the importance of good Manufacturing Drawings and Product Engineering and Design, another important aspect is how the parts get assembled together. This might not seem like a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, but think about it… If a product is poorly assembled, it jeopardizes the quality, functionality, and longevity of the product. Continue reading

What is an RMA in Manufacturing?

RMA

A Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) is an authorization from a manufacturer for their customer to return products that do not meet the required specifications. Upon receiving products that have been returned, the manufacturer will either provide rework for the product in order to meet the requirements, exchange bad products for good products, or provide a credit or a refund. Continue reading

The Importance of CAD Models in Manufacturing

CAD (computer-aided design) models have changed the way the manufacturing industry designs and manufactures parts. There’s no doubt that since CAD technology, there has been a huge turning point for the better. Before CAD, designers used paper, pencils, rulers, compasses, and other tools to go about their drafting. It was cumbersome, time consuming, and a nuisance at times especially when there were changes being made to the design. Continue reading